There can be no meaningful debate. The All Blacks flanker is a player without equal in the history of his sport. Others have shone brightly, but he has eclipsed them all.

There should be relief that the 34-year-old laid down his shield in the aftermath of arguably his and his team’s finest hour. In the days following the Kiwis’ first World Cup triumph away from home, there was a faint suspicion that McCaw might extend his glittering career.

All Blacks team captain Richie McCaw speaks during a press conference to announce his retirement

That would have been a mistake. Timing is everything and his decision to announce his retirement on Wednesday signalled that his sense of it remains sharp.

When the emotions subsided, he recognised this was the right moment to go out; on a glorious high, when he was still operating somewhere close to his towering peak. It would have been uncomfortable to watch his powers fade and thankfully it didn’t come to that.

Steve Hansen, the All Blacks head coach, suggested that his record-breaking captain had saved some of his best form for the final chapter of his epic story. The passing of time had slowed the body slightly, but not the mind. His nous and ability to read the ebb and flow of a game were unmatched.

McCaw proudly holds the World Cup trophy during New Zealand's victory parade in Wellington

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All his feats are etched in stone, his levels of achievement are eye-watering. But what made the player was the nature of the man. McCaw retained an engrained humility amid the fanfare that invariably surrounded him. He couldn’t comprehend the notion of chasing a fortune in France rather than staying true to Christchurch and the Crusaders.

Being feted left him uncomfortable. The word is that McCaw will again turn down a knighthood if it is offered to him, as he did in 2011. At heart, he regards himself as a cog in the wheel, when the evidence reveals him to be a one-off; a man apart.

His plan is to fly helicopters for a living, but England or any other nation in need of breakdown expertise may not wait long before trying to lure him into a coaching role.

McCaw will hand up his boot after a stellar career that spanned 148 caps and four World Cups

The outpouring of grief and acclaim has been poignant and profound. Jonah Lomu’s death at the age of 40 was a source of global grieving. This column will merely add another distant voice to the tributes for an All Black icon snatched away far too soon.

This was a man who left a giant footprint.

His legacy is having helped to catapult rugby into the professional era back in 1995. He made people with no interest in the sport pay close attention. He was no mere bowling ball among skittles; the colossal wing from Tongan stock had footwork and speed, but it was the sight of a juggernaut on the loose which captivated the masses.

Legendary All Black winger Jonah Lomu’s death at the age of 40 was a source of global grieving

He was other-worldly — a ‘freak’, as Will Carling claimed, but in the best possible sense.

Off the field, his innocent charm was best demonstrated by how happy he was around children; gentle, caring, engaging and patient.

Lomu was fearsome when he needed to be and fun the rest of the time, a legend without ego.

JONES MAY OFFER ARMITAGE A LIFELINE

When Toulon take on Wasps at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday, Steffon Armitage will have special reason to hit the European heights again in an intriguing Champions Cup encounter. The French club’s multi-award-winning English flanker is likely to find himself in a breakdown duel with former Australia openside George Smith, at a time when his Test prospects may be set for a dramatic revival.

Stuart Lancaster stuck to the RFU edict against picking players based overseas, but his successor Eddie Jones may query that stance. Writing for Sportsmail last month, he said: ‘Whether they should select overseas players is a big call for the RFU. I’m not privy to whether Armitage is the best No 7 in England, but from what I can see in the Premiership, there is probably no one better to carry out that role at the breakdown.’

Exiled flanker Steffon Armitage could be set for a recall to the England squad under Eddie Jones' regime

If Russia are to be integrated into the mainstream of European rugby, they could do with shifting their power base a few thousand miles west. Connacht beat Enisei-STM of Krasnoyarsk 31-14 in the frozen wilds of Siberia on Saturday night as temperatures dropped to -27°C. The Irish province’s trip to this new Challenge Cup frontier went horribly wrong on the return journey.

After technical trouble with their charter plane and visa issues, Pat Lam’s squad returned home in three groups, travelling via Amsterdam, Paris and London. The last contingent didn’t arrive in Galway until Tuesday night — four days before their home tie against Brive. Newcastle are due to make the same journey in January, when it could be even colder. It may be best if, for the purposes of continental matches, a Russian franchise is established in Moscow — and investment made to develop an indoor, heated arena!

THE LAST WORD

It came across as opportunism for Bath owner Bruce Craig to declare last Sunday that his club’s away fixture against Champions Cup holders Toulon — postponed following the terrorist attacks in Paris — will never take place.

But his point about a lack of gaps in the calendar cannot be disputed. In this World Cup season, a delayed start to the domestic campaign means there is no LV Cup and therefore no flexibility.

The Champions Cup game must be played at a later date, but not during the Six Nations when players will be away.

Bath owner Bruce Craig's point about a lack of gaps in the calendar cannot be disputed

This is another illustration of the need for a more streamlined, global season. In this part of the world, too much rugby is played and the season structure is too disjointed.

When Northern Hemisphere officials accept that less is more and summer rugby makes sense, European nations may start challenging their southern rivals again.

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Richie McCaw, the All Blacks warrior king, right to end Test career on a high